Russell was born at 13,
Belgrave Square, London, to
Frederick Lygon, 6th Earl Beauchamp and Lady Mary Stanhope, daughter of
Philip Stanhope, 5th Earl Stanhope. She married the
2nd Baron Ampthill, a civil servant, in 1894. Lord Ampthill served as
Governor of Madras from 1900 to 1906. Lady Ampthill was appointed a
Companion of the Order of the Crown of India in 1900 and awarded a gold
Kaisar-i-Hind Medal in 1906. Lady Ampthill first became friends with Queen Mary in 1891, when she was known as Princess May. Lady Margaret was appointed a Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Mary in 1911, but was honoured by four monarchs for her charity work. In 1918, she was appointed a
Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire for her work with the Red Cross during the First World War and a
Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order in 1946 for her work as a courtier. She was also a Dame of Grace of the Venerable
Order of Saint John of Jerusalem. She died in hospital in London after a long illness. After her death,
Viscount Templewood eulogised her in
The Times and commented on her friendship with Queen Mary: ==Issue==